Chapter 7 #2
“And I may have to go up to Indy. But, Ben, we’re here now, carefree, not the world changers we hope to be.
I’ve been Cami the businesswoman for so long I’ve forgotten what it’s like to be Cami the girl who likes to have fun and eat barbecue and hot dogs, and—” She glanced toward the roped-off section for the three-legged race. “Run a three-legged race.”
She grabbed Ben’s hand and tugged him toward the course before he could protest. This could be fun. She was just enough of a competitor—
“Cami, hold up. You want to run in the three-legged race? You have to be on a team. We used to have one for the inn, but—”
“Ben Carter!” A man with a bullhorn and a clipboard strolled toward them. “Haven’s Bakery needs one more pair for their team. Ruby had to drop out. Twisted her ankle.”
Good ole Hooley. Hadn’t seen him in years. The man never aged. “Hooley, I don’t think we should—”
“Yes, we should.” Cami tugged on his T-shirt sleeve. “Come on, please.”
“Have you ever been in a three-legged race?”
“Not since I was, like, six.” She leaned close to him. “But it would be fun.”
“I guess we’re in.”
Hooley wrote on the paper on his clipboard with a number two pencil. “I’ll let Chloe and Sam know. All I need now is a team name.”
“Inn It to Win It.” Cami laughed as Hooley filled in the small box.
“You’ll be in the third heat. Best grab a rope and a sack.”
Ben retrieved one of each from the pile. “Line up next to me. Press your leg tight against mine. I’ll tie us up with the rope, then we can take a quick practice run before stepping into the sack. We have to move and work together or—”
“Ben Carter, thank you so much.” A very pretty brunette approached, holding up two white T-shirts identical to the one she wore tied up at her trim waist. “I didn’t even know you were in town.
Wow, it’s good to see you.” She leaned in for a hug, then turned to Cami.
“Chloe Hardy. Ben and I graduated together.”
“Cami Jackson.”
“I have two Haven’s Bakery three-legged race tees for you. Cami, I don’t have any smalls.”
“I’ll wear whatever you’ve got.”
“Well, my sweet husband—”
Ben leaned close. “Titans quarterback.”
Cami made a face. “I know who Sam Hardy is, Ben. I don’t live in a cave.”
“He ordered large and extra-large for the whole team. Here you go.”
Cami slipped on her T-shirt. It was hard to maneuver with her leg tethered to his.
“Win, lose, or draw—have fun. I’m so grateful you volunteered.” Chloe bent toward Ben. “Everyone is gunning for Pop’s Yer Uncle.”
“Do they still win every year?”
“Every year. It’s time for a new champ.”
Chloe ran off to meet her husband, who was more impressive in real life than on the gridiron.
While the Hardys lined up to race in the first heat, Ben and Cami practiced the best form. Arms tight around each other’s waists, hips pressed together.
“Once we get a rhythm”—Ben roped his arm around her—“we should be able to fly.”
Races went on all day, but each grand heat had its own champion. In this grand heat, number five, Sam and Chloe won the first heat with a team from the Wedding Shop coming in second.
“The top two teams move on to the final heat,” Ben said.
Pop’s Yer Uncle won heat number two. A team from the kids’ theater came in second.
Finally, Hooley called the third heat. “On the line.”
Chloe came up to the starting line. “You got this,” she said. “Take your time, focus, run together.”
“Ready?” Ben glanced at Cami, smiling. “Start with the outside leg.”
“On your mark—” Hooley, from the bullhorn.
Cami and Ben leaned forward. Her heart thundered in her chest. Suddenly the bullhorn blasted, and the racers were off.
Ben kept their cadence. “Out. In. Out. In.”
Around them, in front of them, couples toppled.
“Sorry, Cole,” Ben hollered as he and Cami leapt over one of the downed racers.
“No, you’re not,” Cole called. “But go, go, go! Beat Pop’s!”
Cami wanted to look behind but feared she’d lose her balance. She whispered with Ben as he kept the pace. “Out. In. Out. In.”
“Let’s go faster,” she breathed out.
Ben picked up the tempo, and as the finish line grew closer, Cami could taste their victory. Suddenly, Chloe appeared in their view, jumping and waving her arms.
“Hurry, Pop’s is closing in. Go, go, go!”
In four more strides they crossed the finish line. First place.
“You won, you won!” Chloe raced toward them and grabbed them in a winner’s hug. “You were amazing.”
Cami was catching her breath as she accepted congratulations, still tied to Ben. When the crowd cleared, they plopped to the ground for a rest.
“That was so fun.” Was she glowing? She felt like she was glowing.
Chloe handed them each a bottle of water and an “all the treats you want from the Haven’s table.”
“I don’t think I can eat,” Cami said after a long drink.
“We can wait until after our final victory.”
“Oh really?” She loved the smile in his wide blue eyes. “You’re confident, Carter.”
“Sure, why not? Time for a new champ in town.”
His ball cap had been knocked sideways, and his short hair glistened with sweat. When Cami reached up to straighten his hat, Ben caught her hand and angled toward her.
“Cami.”
“Ben?”
He raised his hand to the side of her face. Was he going to kiss her? Her heartbeat kicked up, sure he was going to kiss her. She tipped toward him just as—
“Winners, on the starting line.” Hooley and his darn bullhorn.
Cami didn’t move. Nor Ben. If he had something to say, or do, she wanted to know.
Hooley blasted the horn right over their heads.
“Let’s go, let’s go, winners.”
Ben smiled at her, then pushed to his feet, offering his hand to her.
Don’t forget where we were, Ben.
At the starting line, Ben secured his arm around her, and Cami knew in that moment, if she had her way, she’d never let him go.
But she didn’t get her way, did she? She’d learned that when Mom died. Dad sending her to Indiana proved she was not as in control as she liked to believe.
Letting go was the name of her game.